Starting block



BEST AVAILABLE COP! Jan. 24, 1939. G. T. BRESNAHAN 2,144,962

STARTING BLOCK Filed Feb. 9, 1938 Fi/ la (ieoTge 7T" firesnahan Mama/u Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STARTING BLOCK George T. Bresnahan, Iowa City, Iowa Application February 9, 1938, Serial No. 189,653

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in starting blocks used in connection with athletic running tracks.

Among the several objects of my invention are 5 to provide such a block which is extremely simple in construction, which is easily attached to the ground or removed therefrom, which is collapsible and occupies but little space when collapsed, and which embodies a foot supporting plate which is readily adjustable to any one of several positions of inclination.

With these and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawmg.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my invention in position for use,

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing my invention collapsed,

Figure 3 is an plan View of the invention, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the ground-penetrating nails.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

My invention is formed from sheet metal and comprises a ground-engaging plate A, a footsupporting plate B, a brace C, and a plurality of ground-penetrating nails D.

The plate A is preferably rectangular in plan view, and is provided adjacent its longitudinal edges with nail openings 5. The plate A is also provided on its rear half with a longitudinal series of centrally disposed stops 6 which are preferably struck upwardly from the plate.

The plate B is hinged as at I to the front edge of the plate A and is adapted to be folded either forwardly or rearwardly as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 respectively. Removably attached to the front face of the plate B by bolts 8 is a non-slip facing plate 9 of cardboard or other suitable material.

The brace C comprises an attaching plate l0 of the brace arm II substantially registers with the rear end of the ground-engaging plate A and consequently the package will be no longer than I the length of said plate.

Whenever it is desired to attach the block to 5 the ground, the nails D are driven through the openings 5. Each nail includes a shank I3, 2. head I4, and a flange l 5 on the shank disposed in spaced relation to the head for engaging the plate B to limit the downward movement of the nail. 10 Thus the heads M will be maintained above the plate A and thereby afford means for readily removing the nails whenever it is desired to take up the block.

It is of course to be understood that the details 15 of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A starting block formed wholly of sheet .0 metal comprising a fiat ground-engaging plate,

a flat foot-supporting plate hingedly attached at its lower end to the forward end of the groundengaging plate, a flat brace plate hingedly connected at one end to the rear face of the foot- 25 supporting plate, and a series of stops carried by the ground-engaging plate for cooperation with the free end of the brace to retain the footsupporting plate at a predetermined inclination.

2. A starting block formed wholly of sheet 30 metal comprising a flat ground-engaging plate, a fiat foot-supporting plate hingedly attached at its lower end to the forward end of the groundengaging plate, a fiat brace plate hingedly connected at one end centrally to the rear face of the 35 foot-supporting plate, and a longitudinal series of centrally disposed stops carried by the ground-engaging plate for cooperation with the free end of the brace to retain the foot-supporting plate at a predetermined inclination.

3. A starting block formed wholly of sheet metal comprising a flat ground-engaging plate,

a fiat foot-supporting plate hingedly attached at its lower end to the forward end of the groundengaging plate, a flat brace plate hingedly con- 45 nected at one end to the rear face of the footsupporting plate, and a series of stops carried by the ground-engaging plate for cooperation with the free end of the brace to retain the footsupporting plate at a predetermined inclination, 5 the length of the brace being such that when the foot-supporting plate and the brace are folded over the ground-engaging plate the free end of the brace will substantially register with the rear end of the ground-engaging plate. 55

BEST AVfitltABLE @QPN nected at one end to the rear face of the footelsupporting plate, a series of stops carried by the ground-engaging plate for cooperation With the free end of the brace to retain the foot-supporting plate at a predetermined inclination, and a facing plate removably attached to the front face of the foot-supporting plate.

5. A starting block formed wholly of sheet metal comprising a fiat ground-engaging plate, a fiat foot-supporting plate hingedly attached at its lower end to the forward end of the groundengaging plate, a flat brace plate hingedly connected at one end to the rear face of the footsupporting plate, and a series of stops struck up from the metal of the ground-engaging plate for cooperation with the free end of the brace to retain the foot-supporting plate at a predetermined inclination, the length of said brace being such that when the foot-supporting plate and the brace are folded over the ground-engaging plate a substantially fiat assembly will be presented and the free end of the brace will approximate the rear end of the ground-engaging plate.

GEORGE T. BRESNAHAN. 

